18 years in prison for killing girlfriend- Judge sends strong message against Gender-based Violence

A 37–YEAR-OLD man who bludgeoned and strangled his 24-year-old girlfriend to death in 2023, accusing her of fraternising with men at a shebeen has been sentenced to 18 years in prison.
Bulawayo High Court Judge, Justice Evangelista Kabasa on Tuesday meted out the sentence on Rodney Kawome.
Emotive scenes erupted as family members of the deceased celebrated Kawome’s incarceration.
In his defence Kawome, who was represented by Mr Nkosiyenzile Mpofu of Cheda and Cheda Associates, cited jealousy and suspicion of infidelity as the motives behind his heinous crime.
The incident unfolded when Kawome accused his girlfriend – the late Precious Vundla, who was 24 years old when she met her demise of socialising with other men at a local shebeen.
Overwhelmed by jealousy and rage, Kawome resorted to extreme violence, ultimately leading to the untimely death of his partner.
In passing judgement, Justice Kabasa said the court considered that he was a first-time offender and a father to three minor children but the law will not turn a blind eye to the fact that he wickedly murdered another human being.
“The circumstances drive the notion of the sentence. This crime does not have connotations of provocation, inebriation and any evidence of lack of self-control. The victim, whom you had been with for 8 years, pleaded with you while you beat her senseless and professed her love for you trying to persuade you to stop the assault.”
“The tenants who were at the house tried to reprimand you not once but three times and you chased them from your room. You beat her and strangled her, in what was proven as the major cause of death at asphyxia, which in this case is manual strangulation in a post-mortem,” said Justice Kabasa.

She said therefore the prescribed sentence of between 5 to 15 years of incarceration did not befit the crime, before sentencing him to 18 years.
During the trial, the defendant expressed remorse for his actions and acknowledged the gravity of the harm he caused.
Through his lawyer, Kawome said he deeply regretted his actions and the pain he caused.
Despite the remorseful statement, the court handed down a sentence of 18 years in prison, signalling a strong message against domestic violence and the tragic outcomes it can lead to.
Justice Kabasa emphasised the seriousness of the offence.
“The loss of a young life due to jealousy and violence is a profound tragedy. The sentence reflects the egregious nature of the crime committed.”
The heart-wrenching incident unfolded in August last year, leading to Kawome’s immediate arrest following the discovery of Vundla’s body by concerned tenants.
Family members of the deceased, who are still grappling with the tragic loss, had been demanding justice for Vundla, as Kawome was out of custody on bail.
The late Vundla’s sister, Ms Ntokozo Dube, described Kawome as an abusive and violent individual with a history of aggression in the neighbourhood.
“…a tenant at Kawome’s house told us that she heard my sister screaming and went outside to investigate. When she got there, she told us that our sister collapsed at her feet and begged her to phone our mother,” Ms Dube recounted, shedding light on the chilling moments leading to Vundla’s untimely demise.
According to Ms Dube, the tenant attempted to intervene when she heard Vundla’s cries for help but was met with a harrowing scene of struggle and desperation.
“She said she was screaming for help and pleading with him not to kill her. After a while, she said the noise died down and they slept. The following morning, the tenant woke up and called my sister’s name but she did not respond,” Ms Dube revealed, illustrating the heart-breaking sequence of events that culminated in Vundla’s tragic fate.